Nautilus Mini BVC Flooding - potential new tank advice

[ChrisH48]

So - looking for a little help with my vaping - although I suspect I've tried most of the potential solutions.
Im using nautilus minis - and have both 1.8 and 1.6 BVC coils.
What i find is that a coil may be ok for a week or even a week and a half - or it can be ok for half a tank - and then all of a sudden - with no particular action on my part - its gurgling/flooding and juice is coming out of the air hole.
Im priming my coils - Im using 60vg/40pg juice - my tanks are all spotlessly clean and dry (have cleaned them with soapy water - rinse - vodka steep for 3 hours - rinse - and then 2 days drying in a warm area).
Im vaping at anywhere from 7 watts to 12 watts - and I never even put my device in my pocket - its upright all of the time - if I'm on the move i carry it. I'm vaping on the widest air hole setting. I am also drawing very softly - its definitely not that.
I haven't been able to determine any pattern or cause to these problems - it comes without warning and is making my nautilus mini totally impractical to take out of the house.
If anyone has any ideas Id really appreciate it - at the moment I'm considering giving up on the nautilus mini - the BVC coils aren't cheap and a high percentage of them seem to have problems.
Its really annoying as Ive recommended these tanks to people and now im having problems - btw - all of my equipment has come from either cloud 9 or vape escape - so I very much doubt the devices are anything other than genuine - same for the coils.
The problem then becomes - which tank do you replace the nautilus with - it seems that whatever tank I research - there are pages and pages of experienced vapers having problems with it.
At the minute Im back to my protank 2 - which is nowhere near a working nautilus mini - but is at least more reliable.
Any help appreciated. Let me know if any more info is needed.
Cheers
C

 

[SJClouds]

Does the flooding happen often with your coils for the mini? When I had and was using my nautilus mini, a lot of my coils lasted a week or so but some coils are just bad and they don't last. I had a fresh coil that only lasted my 3 days and those 3 days it was harsh and tasted like ..... But it only happened to me once in a while with 3 or so months of using that tank. I'm just guessing that some coils are bad but if your having trouble with them a lot, you should go to a local shop and ask them if anything is wrong.

 

[alicewonderland]

that was normal for me. coils dont last forever. the gurgling/flooding on your coils means your coils are dead and you need new ones. the juice youre sucking up is juice thats not being vaporized either because 1: coils are dead and not vaporizing eliquid, or 2: the wick gave up and isnt holding juice properly, either way the coil is dead, and theres no way to fix it unless you can rebuild it. 1-1.5 weeks is the norm for a pre-made coil for a tank (at least for me) depending on how often you vape and what power, if you vape more it dies faster.

all in all, that is normal for a clearomizer/tank, you get 1-1.5 weeks out of a 3-5$ coil. This is normal for most clearomizer/tanks unless it is an RTA(Rebuildable tank, no pre-made coils).

 

[ChrisH48]

I have 2 mini's and the problem happens across both of them - so I don't think that is the problem. On Saturday evening I completed cleaning and drying reassembled and everything was going well - I actually commented to my woman that I was pleased that I had them both working ok (she is endlessly amused by the amount of time I put into sorting out vaping problems). By 8pm on sunday (and Im not a heavy vaper) both were flooded. If I don't have any problems with the coil they tend to last me around 2 weeks - but I find Im getting critical failures totally randomly - on average Im having to change a BVC coil 3 times a week - and I only vape about 3 mls a day.

 

[nvadasz]

Kinda new to vaping (4months) but I swear by my mini's. It sounds to me like you may be cleaning your atty to death. Why so much cleaning? There are a series of seals throughout the mini, to include the ones on the coils themselves. Damage a seal and you will have negative results. Quality if the coils I have found to be some of the best. I generally get 3+ weeks of 4+ml per day and then all I get is an off taste. 70/30 may be a bit thick. I generally run 30pg/70vg. I'm currently playing with some 50/50. Not pointing any fingers, just saying...with all the clones...I order strictly through World of Vape...great prices,great service. As a final note: I've never "Primed" a coil yet, at least in the true sense of priming. Fill your tank and let sit for 5 minutes, give it 2-3 hits on the smallest airflow setting, reset your airflow as desired and vape away.

 

[ChrisH48]

My juice is 60vg/40pg as stated above. I tend to clean the tanks every 3 weeks - I have heard of people cleaning once or twice a week so I don't think cleaning every 3 weeks is over the top. When I say I prime the coils that is what I mean - fill up - take a few gentle pulls with the battery off - then wait ten minutes then start lowish watts (maybe 7-8) and slowly work up. An off taste when the coil is worn out is what I would expect - and is what I get if one ever lasts that long - them problem I have is that everything works fine for 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 days - and at a certain point it falls on its a55 ... and starts flooding. Im in the UK so I order from uk sites - but Ive checked the serials on all of my gear and they are all authentic... and vapeescape and cloud9 seem to be recognised on this forum as 2 of the best to order from.. I don't think Im doing anything wrong - I think the coils are just extremely poorly quality controlled - great if they work - but I get major issues with at least 2 out of every 5 - on average

 

[nvadasz]

Well it all sounds good to me. The only other thing I can think of for you is the watts you're running at. You say "lowish" 7-8 watts then ++. I generally run mine at that level for my ADV. I'll for the fun of it run it up to 10 watts just to show a cloud to someone, but then back down to normal levels. The only thing I can come up with is the extended time you may be using the coils at a high wattage is cooking them. I'll grant you, 12 watts may not seem like much, but it's at the extreme of the coil's capacity. Honestly, you must have lungs like leather...that's a hot vape. Try running a bit lower than 10 watts on a new coil and I'll bet they will last longer. If you don't get a good vape off that, you'll need to look at another type of system, or adjust your juice. Remember, just because a car can go 150 Kph doesn't mean it will last for ever doing that mate.

 

[nvadasz]

Try a search on ECF "What watts can you run a 1.8ohm coil at?" That may help you answer your questions

 

[ChrisH48]

12 watts is the highest I ever go - (and ive only done that because of advice on here that higher watts vaping helps with the gurgling problems) - typically Im vaping at 7-9 watts

 

[alicewonderland]

12 watts is the highest I ever go - (and ive only done that because of advice on here that higher watts vaping helps with the gurgling problems) - typically Im vaping at 7-9 watts

who knows then, at that power you shouldnt be getting the issues you are stating, my coils lasted 1week+ and I vaped 0.5ohm coils in a kanger aerotank at 30+ watts. If you are vaping only <12watts on a 1.8 i dont see you having the issues that I had because that shouldnt kill coils as quick as you say. I cant think of anything that would do that other than pre-made coils have gone down in quality since the end of last year.

come to think of it, if you vape heavy dark concentrated flavor juices that could also be gunking up your coils as well and causing the same problem no matter what power you vape at, the sediment just collects on the surface area of the coils and prevent it from vaporizing eliquid optimally, thats the only thing i can think of though. Have you taken out the coils and dissasembled them to see what they look like when you get flooding?

 

[ChrisH48]

I vape a mixture of juices - but there hasn't been a correlation in coils failing quicker with darker ones - the most recent failure was a mix of lemon and watermelon which is virtually clear - I also use tobacco flavours (light brown) and have had the same issues.

I haven't taken any coils apart - im not a technical type of vaper - wouldn't really know what I was doing.

 

[alicewonderland]

I vape a mixture of juices - but there hasn't been a correlation in coils failing quicker with darker ones - the most recent failure was a mix of lemon and watermelon which is virtually clear - I also use tobacco flavours (light brown) and have had the same issues.

I haven't taken any coils apart - im not a technical type of vaper - wouldn't really know what I was doing.

just take one apart that failed, its not that hard. its not connected to any electrical system when taken out, you can practically smash it with a hammer, then observe what the coil looks like, if there is still cotton/filler in there, if the coil is all black covered in gunk or if the cottin is wispy thin/hard and doesnt hold liquid well. You are just throwing it in the trash once its dead anyway, just go to town and take it apart any way you can, theres no dangerous chemicals or anything in there.

its just a wire and filler material inside a housing.

 

[Cloudmann]

Kinda new to vaping (4months) but I swear by my mini's. It sounds to me like you may be cleaning your atty to death. Why so much cleaning? There are a series of seals throughout the mini, to include the ones on the coils themselves. Damage a seal and you will have negative results. Quality if the coils I have found to be some of the best. I generally get 3+ weeks of 4+ml per day and then all I get is an off taste. 70/30 may be a bit thick. I generally run 30pg/70vg. I'm currently playing with some 50/50. Not pointing any fingers, just saying...with all the clones...I order strictly through World of Vape...great prices,great service. As a final note: I've never "Primed" a coil yet, at least in the true sense of priming. Fill your tank and let sit for 5 minutes, give it 2-3 hits on the smallest airflow setting, reset your airflow as desired and vape away.

Yep. I clean my tanks ONLY when I change coils. It's really not necessary otherwise. Especially with the coils themselves, you can ruin the o rings. On the coils, the o rings are designed to provide a seal, but to be installed, removed, and re-installed maybe a handful of times, not with constant cleaning. The rings on the coils will actually stretch and partially negate the liquid seal they provide. Then you get flooded coils and flooding afc bases. Just what you have.

If the tank works beautifully for a few days after you change coils, the tank is fine. Stop cleaning it except for when the coils burn out and need replacing.

 

[Topwater Elvis]

Flooding occurs when more liquid than can be vaporized is drawn into the head, or, the amount of draw/inhale/airflow is insufficient to vaporize the amount of liquid in the head which causes it to build up, or, condensation drains down from the center tube / air tube / chimney / drip tip and settles into the head.
Too strong or weak / light of an inhale, too restrictive air flow setting, under powering, gasket missing damaged or not sealing, over filling & changes in temperature & altitude are common causes.

The top cap needs to be tight to the tank, the head needs to be tight to the base, the tank to base connection only needs to be snug enough to prevent leaking.

It is a good idea to keep inhaling for a second or two after letting off the fire button to clear the air tube & occasionally dry the center / air tube & drip tip with a twisted napkin or qtip to dry condensation as routine maintenance.

To clear a flood try turning it upside down so liquid level can't enter the wicking holes and pressing the fire button for 2 -5 seconds ( a few short bursts).
If that doesn't work, place cleanex / napkin near air hole in base and give a sharp blow down through drip tip to clear excess liquid.
If that doesn't work disassemble, dry air chamber in base beneath head & air tube & drip tip, re assemble fill & try again.

I use mainly 50/50 and it has never caused any flooding in any delivery device.
I usually vape nautilus 12.5w ~ 16.25w, when installing a new head I prime thoroughly and start off around 9.75 ~ 10w for the first first dozen or so vapes and stay around 12.5w for the first tank. I have yet to have an authentic aspire bvc flood without an explainable cause & easy remedy and I get extraordinary head life.

When you check the scratch off security code if it says the number has been checked any amount of times, you have a fake. Each number is unique to one single whatever your checking. It should say something like ' congratulations your aspire product is authentic'.

 

[navigator2011]

I honestly don't understand how people can run the Nautilus with such a low power. I had been running mine between 12-13 watts for my ADV, with very occasional gurgling that was always easy to fix. What I could not tolerate was juice being splattered into my mouth. I have been running the Mini on my iStick at 15 watts and there has been zero gurgles, juice splatter, or flooding. The 1.8 ohm coils are rated up to 6.0 volts, which equates to roughly 20 watts, so there's no need to limit things to as little as 7 watts.

 

[ChrisH48]

pic 1

 

[ChrisH48]

pic 2

 

[ChrisH48]

Pic 3

 

[ChrisH48]

In all honesty I didn't check the packaging - but I am fairly sure they are legit - Ive looked at all the packaging and photos on the aspire site - and they match what I got - also I cant find any mention on the www of people complaining of fakes from where I get mine.

 

[navigator2011]

Well, all your pictures look a lot like my Mini Nautilus gear. I did notice that the metal covered tank (your Pic 1) seemed inclined to flood more easily than the glass tank. Don't know why. In any case, at 15 watts neither of them flood.